In their first debate in two years, the 2nd Congressional District Republican and Democratic nominees fought over the title of who could be the most bipartisan.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, R-Peterborough, repeated the word bipartisan at least a dozen times in the hour-long debate sponsored by the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association in Manchester. Bass challenger Annie Kuster, D-Hopkinton, tried to one-up Bass saying that she was “born bipartisan.”

The state’s 2nd Congressional District race is one of the most closely watched in the entire country. It is a rematch from 2010, when Bass defeated Kuster by just 3,500 votes, less than a percentage point.

This November’s election is not expected to see the type of Republican wave that carried Bass into office in 2010. At the same time, unlike 2010 when they sought an open seat, Bass is the incumbent now and polls suggest he is much better known.

From the beginning of the debate it appeared that both did not want a nasty partisan tone like that in the 1st Congressional District debate a day earlier. Instead, Bass and Kuster wanted to position themselves as being reasonable and moderate and their opponents as out of touch.

For Bass, this meant linking Kuster to the national Democratic Party playbook and to President Barack Obama. For Kuster, this meant linking Bass to the Tea Party element of the Republican Party.

Both rejected the accusations presented by their opponent by citing their previous work that incorporated the members of the opposite party.

They also sought a measured approach when they were asked about the larger role of the government in American lives and in businesses. Democrat Kuster talked about need for government as did Republican Bass. Both also gave examples where the government was a problem.

So when they tried to point out differences they were left to smaller philosophical gaps. Sure, Kuster said Bass felt that “government was always the problem.” Bass said that Kuster felt “government can solve everything.” Neither actually said what they were accused of.

Going forward this race could be about the dynamic of which candidate can appear the most reasonable. Republican Bass, in particular, will have to do more convincing. This congressional district votes 3 percentage points more Democratic in presidential races than other districts around the country. Though 7 out of 10 voters in this district don’t know who Kuster is, so her challenge is to simply get her name out there.

Neither are having any problems raising the money they need to get their messages out. Now it might be about who can win the “bipartisan title” first.

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